1988 – Glenn Davis drives in five, including three on his fifth home run of the young season, to slam the Reds, 9-3. It makes for an unhappy 47th birthday for Cincinnati skipper Pete Rose.
Rick Honeycutt of the Oakland Athletics becomes the second pitcher in as many days to tie the American League’s 28-year-old balk record by committing four balks in four innings while saving a 12 – 7 win over Seattle. A major league record 924 balks will be called this season after umpires are instructed to interpret the complete stop rule more strictly.
Bobby Witt ties an American League record, committing four balks in the Rangers’ 4-1 loss in Detroit. The major league record for the most balks in one game is five, established in 1963 by Braves’ right-hander Bob Shaw, which included three in the third inning of the team’s 7-5 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
1988 – Glenn Davis drills a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth to tie Cincinnati then Houston explodes for five runs in the 16th to take an 8-3 victory. Winning pitcher Larry Andersen starts the final rally with a single off Jose Rijo then scores on a two-run single by Billy Hatcher.
Chris Sabo, playing in just his second big league game, ties a major league record, handling eleven assists at third base in the Reds’ 8-1 victory over the Cardinals at Riverfront Stadium. The Cincinnati freshman infielder will beat out Chicago’s Mark Grace for Rookie of the Year honors this season.
Pat Borders becomes the first player in American League history to drive in five runs in his major league debut when he collects two singles and a triple in the Blue Jays’ 11-4 victory over Kansas City at Royals Stadium. The 24 year-old rookie catcher joins Walter Mueller (1922 Pirates) and Joe Cunningham (1954 Cardinals), who both accomplished the feat in the Senior Circuit.
With a 6-3 Opening Day victory over the Padres, Houston wins its 2,000th game in franchise history. The Astros score five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, making starter Mike Scott the winning pitcher.
On April 4, 1988, the New York Mets set an Opening Day record by clouting six home runs in a 10-6 win over the Montreal Expos. Kevin McReynolds and Darryl Strawberry each bang out a pair of home runs at Olympic Stadium. Estimates place Strawberry’s second home run at 525 feet…
On April 4, 1988, George Bell of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on Opening Day. Bell’s home runs, all coming against Kansas City Royals ace Bret Saberhagen, help the Jays to a 5-3 win…
1988 – For the first time since 1956, the Special Veterans Committee does not elect anyone to the Hall of Fame. Phil Rizzuto, Leo Durocher, Joe Gordon, and Gil Hodges are among the candidates passed over.
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